Special to El Rrun-Rrun
Thousands of people have received this Instagram alerting them to the fact that one of Angelita's Cafe's co-owners is registered as a sex offender with the State of Texas.If you remember, that cafe is where Brownsville Independent School District board member Erasmo Castro co-hosts a podcast with blogger (Brownsville Observer) Jim Barton.
The person(s) who posted this on social media say they have nothing against the business, but merely that the public should be alerted to the fact that such a person who has to register with the state on these nature of charges works there.
The fact that Erasmo, as a BISD member, and knows about the man still continues to encourage BISD students to events there and to make it their hangout shows a cavalier attitude toward the serious issues that might arise from this situation.
The owners, Martin Leal Sr. and his wife Angelita are the parents of Martin Leal Jr. (alleged to be a co-owner), who was convicted of attempt to commit indecency with a child through sexual contact in May 2016 and was sentenced to a seven-year probation where he has to renew his registration annually with the Brownsville Police Department and the Cameron County Probation Office. He is also registered on the state's website (See graphic. Click on to enlarge).
We don't know if Barton has been notified of this situation but we know Erasmo has because he is a social media maven.
If you think about it, guests to the duo's podcasts have included political candidates and incumbents, law enforcement officials, among other leading citizens in the city.
Castro, as a BISD board member, is showing dismal judgment coming on the heels of his recent brushes with the law including a DWI, an alleged speeding incident, and a nebulous incident involving a police inquiry into his behavior with another man in the parking lot of a local lounge.
Castro, as a BISD board member, is showing dismal judgment coming on the heels of his recent brushes with the law including a DWI, an alleged speeding incident, and a nebulous incident involving a police inquiry into his behavior with another man in the parking lot of a local lounge.
The people who have posted these warnings have made it clear that they are not against having the young Leal renew his life and gain employment.
But when you thrust in the fact that a BISD board member is encouraging students to attend event there knowing that a registered sex offender works in the establishment, the situation changes drastically.
Castro, who has a checkered criminal past of his own, should know better.